DIY Network

Starting the Round Box Starting the Round Box From "Woodturning Basics" episode DWTN-104

Figure A

The first step is creating the body of the box.

Steps:

1. Find the center point at either end of the piece of wood (figure A). This is done by drawing an X from corner to corner.

2. Set the lathe speed for 1,800 rpm. This is a good safe speed for the size of the wood being turned.

   Tip: The bigger the chunk of wood, the more slowly the lathe needs to spin.
   

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   3. Center the wood block between the head and tail stocks of the lathe (figure B). Once it is snugly centered in the lathe, it is locked in place to keep the hand wheel from vibrating loose. The tool rest must also be adjusted, so it is as close to the wood as possible (figure C).

   Figure B

   Figure C

   
   4. Turn the wood to make the blanks (figure D). Start at one end, not the middle, to decrease the chances of splintering the wood (figure E). Remove small sections of wood at a time.

   Figure D

   Figure E

   
   5. Tenons have to be cut on each end. The tenons are held in place by the chuck, a vicelike attachment on the head stock of the lathe. The tenons are a 1/4" wide, about twice as wide as the parting tool, which is 1/8". The tenons need to have sharp, square shoulders (figure F) since they sit tightly against the jaws of the chuck. This keeps the piece from wedging loose as it is turned.

   6. This blank has enough wood for two blanks, so the middle is marked for separation with the parting tool. As the wood is turned, it will create a vibrating noise as it becomes thinned toward the center of the cylinder.

   A close-up of the parting tool creating a tenon.

   Figure F

   
   Tip: A small (approximately 1") mark is all that's needed when marking the cylinder for separation. When the cylinder is spinning on the lathe, it will appear as a solid line.

   7. When the parting tool is almost through the center of the cylinder, shut off the lathe. Just as the lathe comes to a stop, take hold of one of the two halves; this will cause the piece to separate into two blanks (figure G).

Figure G

The box and the blank.